Fantasy of an African Boy - A beautiful poen

James Berry Such a peculiar lot we are, we people without money, in daylong yearlong sunlight, knowing money is somewhere, somewhere. - - - Everybody says it's big bigger brain bother now, money. Such millions and millions of us don't manage at all without it, like war going on. - - - And we can't eat it. Yet without it our heads alone stay big, as lots and lots do, coming from nowhere joyful, going nowhere happy. - - - We can't drink it up. Yet without it we shrivel when small and stop forever where we stopped, as lots and lots do. - - - We can't read money for books. Yet without it we don't read, don't write numbers, don't open gates in other countries, as lots and lots never do. - - - We can't use money to bandage sores, can't pound it to powder for sick eyes and sick bellies. Yet without it, flesh melts from our bones. - - - Such walled-round gentlemen overseas minding money! Such bigtime gentlemen, body guarded because of too much respect and too many wishes on them: - - - too many wishes, everywhere, wanting them to let go magic of money, and let it fly away, everywhere, day and night, just like dropped leaves in wind! - - - Note : The above poem won Poetry Competition in 1981 - Source : http://www.poetrysociety.org/